Globalization is a phenomenon affecting almost every large company. Nowadays, as a synonym of success, we can perceive introducing the largest number of products to new markets. However, it is not an easy process – it consists of multiple steps, including content adaptation to the needs of regional recipients. That is why traditional localization strategies can become insufficient. In such
a case, what actions should companies undertake in order to tackle this challenge? And how big of
a role do translation agencies play in this field?
Silicon Valley is famous for many things – advanced technology, innovative strategies, and incomparable management methods. This is where the language industry looks for inspiration to grow. It tries to draw from the ability of quick and flexible reaction to changes, which has been developed by the employees of Silicon Valley. The tools and processes that provide a constant flow of communication between all the people who take part in adjusting the product to foreign requirements are called continuous localization.
Localization is a key to success
Localization might become a strategy that will allow international clients to discover a particular product . It is good to start developing it from the very beginning, along with the idea of product and service expansion across borders. Continuous localization is a process that connects localization specialists, translators, engineers, and product manufacturers. Members of such business groups have an immense impact on the company’s image formation, and their common actions are essential when it comes to saving time and money.
An efficient CL system is the right technology for content management. Software, apps, websites, and games are constantly being developed and improved, which means new content has to be translated and properly localized. In order to avoid translation failures, the incorrect context of words, wrong format and other similar issues, there should be constant cooperation between content creators, programmers and translators. Previously, new software was published once, or maybe a couple of times a year. Nowadays, it happens within days or weeks, which means a never-ending flow of content to translate.
Waterfall localization
Methods change as well: Waterfall localization relies on leaving the localization until the end of software implementation, when programmers send the full set of files in various formats for translation. This method of cooperation is quite inconvenient for the translator: he/she has to translate hundreds of pages at once, proofread, correct, discuss details and accept changes. This is why some delays may happen, and the translator’s work is not being monitored because the programmers receive the whole set of translated texts. As the name suggests, for both translators and programmers it is just a waterfall of content to work on.
Agile localization
Agile localization is better than Waterfall localization in several aspects; it relies on simultaneous cooperation between programmers and translators as well as uses the Translation Management System (TMS). Whenever new content appears on the website, it is automatically uploaded into
a system that can be accessed by a translator. When he/she finishes his/her work, the completed text is immediately added to a code repository. This means that the translator works more often and on fewer pieces of text, which allows programmers to update the content much faster.
Continuous localization
This type of localization is another step towards automating and improving the process of translation. So how does it differ from Agile? Agile localization relies on translating the parts that have to be finished in order to move on to the others. CL never ends, work can be continued and the content is always ready to be published without the necessity of closing certain stages. Such
a workflow allows everyone to act carefully and thoroughly – the translators work on the localization whenever new texts appear, so they are not given enormous sets of files, and the programmers can deploy new software at any time.
Continuous localization is thus a better version of Agile as it allows constant actualization. It eliminates outdated and manual forms of cooperation, replacing them with a process that improves operations and speeds up final product preparations. Therefore, the translation industry develops along with the IT industry, and modern forms of cooperation between clients and translation agencies become common practice.
